Vehicle doorlock strike



Dec. 11, 1956 B. J. CRAIG 2,773,717

VEHICLE DOORLOCK STRIKE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l L iiiii r Dec. 11, 1956 B. J. CRAIG 2,773,717

VEHICLE DOORLOCK STRIKE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I09 08 v P United States Patent VEHICLE DOORLOCK STRIKE Burnie J. Craig, Los Angeles, Calif.

Original application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,281, now Patent No. 2,705,882, dated April 12, 1955. Divided and this application March 7, 1955, Serial No. 492,610

2 Claims. (Cl. 292-340) This invention relates to a vehicle door lock strike.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle door lock strike which is particularly adaptable for use with rotary gear lock type bolts.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle door lock strike having bolt engaging teeth thereon and having a sliding dovetail wedge member carried thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle door lock strike including a body having spaced gear bolt engaging teeth projecting therefrom and having a sliding dovetail wedge member mounted on the body in spaced relation to the teeth.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, looking in the direction of the arrow 1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 3 and showing the opposite side of the door lock;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the door lock;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4A is an isometric view, showing the coincidental lock member;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view showing the door lock and associated door and pillar;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the dovetail member;

Fig. 7 is an isometric view of the actuating member;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 1, showing a modification;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the modification, and

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010, Fig. 8.

This application is a divisional of application Serial No. 201,281, filed December 18, 1950, now Patent No. 2,705,882, granted April 12, 1955.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shown as embodied in a vehicle door latch which is indicated generally at 10. As shown the latch includes a body 11 adapted to be secured to a vehicle door 12. The body 11 includes a flange 13.

The body 11 supports a rotatable shaft 14- which, on the outer face of the body has a bolt 15 fixed thereon and at the inner face has a ratchet member 16 fixed thereon.

The rotary bolt 15 projects beyond the end of the door 12 and coacts with a strike member 17 which has teeth 18 thereon and is secured to the door pillar 19 by fastening members 20. The rotary bolt includes teeth 21 which engage the teeth 18.

Th ratchet 16 is adapted to be engaged by an ear 22 on a dog 23 which is shown as pivoted at 24 to the body 11. The dog has another ear 25 which is engaged by an intermediate portion 25' of a spring 26, mounted on a fastening member 27. The dog is thus normally urged to engaged position.

The dog 23 is shown as-adapted to be rocked by an 'ice arm 28 fixed on a shaft 29. The arm 28 engages an arm 28 on the dog 23. The arm 28 is adapted to be rocked by a crank 30, which is adapted to be actuated by a remote control member on the inside of a door. The remote control member may be similar to the remote control member shown in Craig Patent 2,450,372, granted September 28, 1948.

The d0g23 also includes an upwardly extending arm 31 which has a bent end tongue 32 which is adapted to be engaged by a tongue portion 33 on an actuating member 34, which is shown as mounted on a release arm 35 by means of a pivot pin 36. The release arm 35 is pivoted on the body member 11 at 36 and is engaged and urged to non-releasing position by the free end of the spring 26.

The construction is such that when the release arm 35 is pushed inwardly (to the right in Fig. l) as by a push member 37, which is operated by a push button 38 on a door handle 39, the actuating member 34 will be moved to the right in Fig. 1, causing the portion 33 to engage the portion 32 of the dog 23 to rock the dog so that the car 22 will'be shifted to clear the ratchet 16 and to allow the shaft 14 to rotate to thus free the bolt 15.

The strike 17 coacts with a wedge member 40 which preferably consists of a one-piece stamping bent up to form an upper base portion 41 and a lower base portion 42 from which a wedge 43 is punched up. This wedge member includes an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 45 as Well as a top 46. Through the upper portion 41 the fastening member 27 extends. The pivot member 24 extends through the lower portion 42. The wedge member includes an inclined flange 47 which is perpendicular to the lower portion 42.

The bottom portion of the wedge member 40 is engageable by a dovetail wedge 48 on the strike. The wedge 48 has a planar lower face 49, slidably engaging a face 50 on the strike 17. A spring 51 partly disposed in a hole in the wedge member normally urges the dovetail wedge member to the right in Fig. 2 towards a shoulder 53 on the strike. The strike 17 has a groove 54 which engages a bead 55 on the dovetail wedge. A cover member 56, which may be spot welded to the strike as at 57, prevents removal of the dovetail wedge but allows it to slide. The wedge member flange 47, which is inclined, engages a similarly inclined face 58 on the strike 17.

As the door is closed the strike member teeth 18 engage -the teeth 21 on the rotary bolt and as a result the rotary bolt 15 will be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 2 so that the car 22 on the dog 23 engages one of the ratchet teeth 16 and is held in engagement therewith by the spring portion 25' previously described.

While the parts are moving tothe position in Fig. 2, the dovetail wedge member 48 will be first forced to the left in Fig. 2 by engagement with the lower face 45 of the wedge member 40 until the door is closed, whereupon the spring 51 will gradually urge the dovetail wedge 48 forwardly as the parts settle to position wherein the inclined face 58 on the strike 17 engages the flange 47 in wedging relation. teeth 18 to engage the teeth 21 firmly, with no up or down play, thus holding the door securely in closed position.

When closed, the door may be opened by pushing on the button 38 to rock the release arm 35 and to thereby shift the actuating member 34 to the right in Fig. 1. This will cause the portions 33 and 32 to engage to rock the I dog 23 and thereby free the ratchet 16.

4 will be raised above the portion 32 on the dog so that This wedging action will cause the movement-of the actuating member-bythe pushbutton 38 will not release the ratchet.-

To effect the locking operation the actuating mernber 34is providedwitha forwardlyextendingportion 60-,- froi'n which a tongue '61 extends upwardly. The end 'Ofthe" portion60 fits-in-aslot 62 in a lockrnember-63-which' includes slots 64 which receive guide-pins'65" fastenedon' fiange. 13 to reciprocatingly mountthe -lock-=memben The lock member 63- includes a U -shaped portion 66 which projects forwardly and in which the- -slot--62'pre-- viously, mentioned 'is arranged.-- The upper--wallofthe U-shaped portion-66 has -a slot--67 -'through whiehthe tongue 61.:slides. The endofthelportion 60;is;bent;overtot-form atongue 67 which preventsupwardmovement ofLthe'portion' 60 into the slot-67.'". a

The, U-shaped portion 66 is engaged-by an enlarged rounded portion. 68: on a locking-arm 69- which is piv oted as at 70 on the flange 13. The lockingarm-69 in cludesanuaperture 71* which receives-a-push-member 72;.which-1 extends .to the window mouldingof the --door;- thus. permitting'thearm 69 to berocked.--

When .themember 72 is pushed downwardly,- the por-- tion 68:. wi1l be raised, thus. raising the ,usshapedsportiom 66and raising the lockmember 63. :1 This will cause-theactuating-member 34 110 betraised so that theportions' 32; and 33 will be out of; alignmengrwhereupon when the actuating-imember 34tis moved/to the-right in Fi'gs 1,- the dog 23 wil1;not,be1rocked,.-inr other'wordsg there will"bear lockingtaction. a

,In order ,to prevent the-11ser=.from.accidentally lockinghimselfloutiof the vehicleand alsotozprovide rneans-for readilylocking thetvehicle door when it is so desiredg the present, construction includes a lock operating member 80;which has slots181 slidablev onthenpins 65'previously;rnentiqned. The ntember 80 includes a U-shaped outstanding portion 82 which;,is idisposediabout the U- shaped portion 66; but, is spaced therefrom. ThisU- shaped portion f82 includes a .slot: 83in which the forwar dly extending portiom 60';on. theactuating member: tla id sn se -e The slot 83; islonger, than the combined:length of-the tongue 61 andtheportion 60Vof-th'e. actuating members-34"- so thatthere'is a space; aboverthe :upper end ofJthe tongue 61,;as shown, in Fig. l whenttherpartsr-are .unlockeda eq-the actuating member 34.1is.mov ed to. thelocked: pqsitiomthe upper; end. of; the tongue 61 will :be adjacent to the upper end ofthe slot 83,.

' When the V actuating: member is in, locked position and: the lock operating member 80;;is rnoved downwardly, the lo cle operating; member 4 will; engage I the. tongue 61;:and- 2 will rock; the actuating, member. .34w downwardly to-v un- .=.k ..-P ?s .ti n=;

In prdento-movethe lock operating member, :down-.. w wardly to unlockedpqsition -whenever a door is clo sed;-: the free end -of the arm 28% on the -dog:;23.fits :rin: (t-slot 81in the lower endlpf the lockingoperating membert80; 1

Thus-when the door is closed;the btfltlS,willlberotated:

and the. r tc e rw 1 a sq rot tedls t a he dog: will be rocked -abput its pivot 24, thus-moving the arm; 28?;downwardly, thereby causing the 31pp erwall of1,the;, ot .3; o e age a d; P cw t e n ue 1to11h hyo p l e, c at n mem r-r3 d w w d y:- to u lo ked?- pdsit ei -o a mq da t o e: l ck;OP a na emhen wd wnwardlyv to unlocked position whenever a door is closed, the l free end of, the arm 28-on the dogZ} fits in a slot; 7 4 e l w e o e c perat n mem er) 8051 h s whe t d is ed; t e; bol 0 15. tw ljb rota edand the ratchet 16 w a so b rq ated sot atz he q 231-. will berocked; aboutits pivot 24,: thus; moving the; arm 28 ;downwardly,,thereby causing theuppenwall-of the; slot 83, tov engage and pulldownthe tongue 61;-.to thereby; pull the actuating member 34. downwardly vto jmlockcd, pq ifl i If, however, when the actuating member 34 is in locked a position; that is-in thebroken line position inl-Figwl,-and= is held inwardly by pushing'on the push button 38 as the door is being closed, the dog arm 28 .will move the lock operating member downwardly but since the tongue 61 will have been moved inwardly beyond the slot 83, and into the path of a--slot- 88 in the top wall of the U-shaped portion- 82 sothat downward movement of the 7 member 80, when tongue 61' and slot SS'Lare aligned, will not cause movement of the actuating memben;34, and the latter will be left in broken line-locked-position v Thusit willbe seenthat by placing the latch inloicked position andrshuttingtheu door. whilfelther actuating unember 34 is in the dotted line-locked-positiontshown in -Big. 1, there will be an unlocking action, but it while this member 34 is in locked-position and' ispushed inwardly, as by its operating push button while the door is being closed, the parts will remain locked.

From=the foregoing description it be =apparentithat the actuating member-34mm}! bev moved up and down from unlocked. to locked positioni and "vice averse-without: moving thelockoperatingmemben 80randi that. when lhfili actuating member 34tmoves, the .-lock member; 63 lwilLbe moved;11p anddown.

Totmove the lock member: up ordowntfromiwithoutt the vehicle a U-shaped upper end 90 of the-lockamemben -To.provide for -coincidentalzlocking of; doors ;on: the

same side of thervehiclega .coincidntahlocking ro1ler;10.0t is arranged on a shaft 101, which latterjncludesanofiset: body portion; 102, shownzaszsecurediaszby weldingat 103 to the lower; faceof the Urshaped portionu66e: .Tlie rollers 10lhare1adaptednt0e gag I i' pper. r low rswi gsirl l and 105, respectively, of a coincidental lockingt controlg member; which is indicated: generally. atr106 :and; which includes a body 107 from;whieh,:a pairyofi tongues; 108;? extend.

The tongues 10$;pass through a -slot109, in;;the pillar and; i are accessible within the vehicle ,fOI'j movement up and down to eflfect the locking and unlocking actiomi The; body 101 includes t0ngues -107 rfrom-which :the wings 104 and 105, previously mentioned, are bentnl'lfheteon i, trol member 106..is rno unted.-ona shafte110 whichiistsupported; in ;bracke ts 111 jremovablyi secured v .tot-the inside fslhep llfi f whyu tabl rews 112. gThe wingst withr the integral connecting body :'107 serve to-comcidentallyzy locle adjacentdoors,

Doors on ;9PPQSite-; sides tofifltheu vehicletmay be coin e cidentally; locked as by Bowden wire, 113; which is (Sui U ablypsecured; to, the control members mfiw. Toncausez: simultaneous action-the Bowden: wire; is c'oupled to the, C011tIQLmmb6Il110j6 ,at the vupper leftr hand YPOI'fiOIIiOf Fig 5 ,to the ,uppen side; of, the control member, v The end ;ofth e z-Bowden wire-is- ,connected tol-thex oppo -fi,

' sitetcontrol memben at the-lower ;side thereof. =."I7husc.on-

trol members onoppositesides. ofthe vehicle both simpl taneonsly -mo ve in, the sametdirection t.

' The coincidental, locking :control members 106,..on the, pillar take the position of the shafts '10.1onclosed'doors. The control members i 106 move v to locked onnnlo'cke'd position-:as each:;doo1: is closed. r The, snap-'pver springs; 96;,serye', to ho1d;the coincidentalllmkingmontrolzine 1 hers in position. 3 Inertia of the moving parts; carri coincidental control ,members 106 over center-so that't springs 96 take over and pull the parts-;to' fullyilocked or unlocked position. v

"I n F ig's. 8 and 9; a modification of the invention-'- is shown. In the modification parts similar to those previously described are designated by single primed reference numerals. In the modification the arm 31 is omitted and an arm 120 is arranged integral with the arm 28' so that when the arm 120 is rocked in the manner heretofore described it will rock the arm 28 and thus rock the arm 28 to release the latch. In the modification also the release arm 35 merely supports the actuating member 34'. The actuating member 34' is moved to bolt releasing position by a push member 125 which is pushed inwardly by a push member 126 on a handle 127. A key 128, when inserted and turned, will rotate the push member 125 so that a projection 129 on the push member will shift the member 34 to locked or unlocked position. Parts 125 to 128 may be similar to the construction shown in applicants copending application Ser. No. 185,416, filed September 18, 1950, now Patent No. 2,686,419, granted August 17, 1954.

In the modification the lock bar 92 and its associated parts are omitted.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a door lock strike, a body adapted to be secured upon a vehicle, said body having upper and lower edges and including spaced bolt engaging teeth projecting from one edge thereof, said body having two planar surfaces extending perpendicular to each other and disposed adjacent to the other edge thereof and in spaced opposed vertical relation to the teeth, a dovetail wedge having two planar portions extending perpendicular to each and engaging said planar body surfaces and slidable therealong, means on the body to constrain the dovetail wedge to move linearly along the said planar surfaces, means to prevent lateral movement of the dovetail wedge on the body, said dovetail wedge having a recess, a spring in said recess and engaging the adjacent wall of the strike to normally urge the dovetail wedge forwardly, and means to limit movement of the dovetail wedge by the spring.

2. In a door lock strike, a body adapted to be secured upon a vehicle, said body having upper and lower edges and including spaced bolt engaging teeth projecting from one edge thereof, said body having two planar surfaces extending perpendicular to each other and disposed adja cent to the other edge thereof and in spaced opposed vertical relation to the teeth, a dovetail wedge having two planar portions extending perpendicular to each and engaging said planar body surfaces and slidable therealong, said body having a planar inclined surface, said inclined surface being disposed outwardly of the outermost one of said teeth, said planar inclined surface being adapted to engage a similarly inclined member on a door, a cover mounted on the body and engaging the dovetail wedge to constrain the dovetail wedge to move linearly along the first mentioned planar surface, means to prevent lateral movement of the dovetail wedge on the body, said dovetail wedge having a recess, a spring in said recess and engaging the adjacent wall of the strike to normally urge the dovetail wedge forwardly, and means to limit movement of the dovetail wedge by the spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,111 Roethel Feb. 28, 1950 2,499,165 Roethel Feb. 28, 1950 2,629,620 Roethel Feb. 24, 1953 2,629,621 Roethel Feb. 24, 1953 2,683,617 Roethel July 13, 1954 

